70's model Pontiac 400
06-12-2014, 09:48 AM
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70'* model Pontiac 400
Hi guys, I am looking into buying an early 70'* model Pontiac 400 engine. Can anyone give me specs on these engines? I want to be fully sure before I buy. I also would like to know the difference between the YS, YZ, ETC... Thanks for the help guys.
06-12-2014, 10:46 AM
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Vechile Identification Number (VIN):
The block VIN and the vehicle VIN were the same, but by late 1967 the block VIN was revised. It started out with a 2 (for Pontiac), the last digit of the year and a letter for the assembly plant followed by the last 6 digits of the vehicle VIN. It was located on the front of the block, on the passengers side, at the bottom near the timing cover.
Common assembly letters are: A = Alanta, B = Baltimore, C (or *) = Califorina/Southgate, E = Linden, NJ, G = Framingham, MA, K = Kansas City, MO, L = Van Nuys, R = Arlington, TX, x = Kansas City, KN, 1 = Oshawa, Ont. Z = Fremont, CA.
*Note* This number sometimes is stamped very lightly and may be hard to read as seen in this picture. It is also interesting that this block has the VIN stamped twice on it.
Casting Code:
All engine blocks have a casting code. This code will tell you the year it was to be used. However, these codes were used for more than one year and could have different machineing or even different main caps. Casting codes for 1955 to 1963 are found on the passengers side of the block. Casting codes for from 1964 to 1967 are found on the distributor pad, except the 421'*. Casting codes for from March 1967 on are found on the rear of the block just behind the number 8 cylinder
Block Code:
Pontiac engines have block code. This code will tell you the year it was to be used. However, these codes were used over from year to year. Together with the casting code and casting date you can determine what the engine is. Starting in 1965 Pontiac began using a 2 digit letter code. Above the 2 digit code will be the motor unit number, which is either 6 or 7 digits. It is important to note that it is not related to the VIN number. As a general rule, "W" coded blocks are manual transmission and "Y" coded blocks are automatics. And most of the "Z" coded blocks are also auto. The "X" coded blocks are a little of both.
Displacement Identification:
Displacement ID'* were cast in the side of the block starting with the 1968 428. A 428 was cast on the side of the block and in the lifter valley was a 28. In 1970 the 350 and 455 had their size cast in the side and a 50 or 55 in the lifter valley. The 400 also has the 400 on the side and 00 in the lifter valley, but not until 1971.
Motor mounts:
Starting in 1959 with the 389 block side motor mounts were used with two holes. In 1964 all blocks had provisions for block mounted starters. Although the full-sized cars still used the bell housing starters. In 1970, all blocks now had 5 motor mount holes, but not always tapped. The additional holes was done to fit the 2nd generation Firebird/Trans Am frame. The last of the V8'* (1977 to 1979) did not have the rear motor mount holes at all. Making it very difficult to install in to a GTO/Tempest.
Freeze Plugs:
There were only two freeze plugs from 1955 to 1966. And beginning in 1967 there were three per side.
Date Code:
The date code is cast on the distributor pad. It is a 3 or 4 digit code. The first digit will be a letter. A=January, B=Febuary, C=March, etc. Followed by a 1 or 2 digit number for the day of the month. The last digit will be the year.
Transfer lug:
The transfer lug or pyramid at the rear of the block to the passenger'* side of the distributor hole. The 389 and 400 blocks will not have this lug. The 326, 350, 421, 428 and 455 blocks will have the transfer lug. This was used to ID an engine when it need to be "transferred" to another line for additional machining. Note: The 1973 SD 455 did not have the transfer lug while the 1974 SD did.
Head codes:
Pontiac heads have their casting codes stamped on the center exhaust ports. Together with the date code, located either on the side of the head or by the rocker studs, you can determine the valve size and cc the chamber.
Intake Manifolds:
Intake codes have casting codes on them as well and with the date code by the thermostat you can determine what engine it came on.
Exhaust manifolds: Similarly to the intake, the exhaust casting codes will also show what engine there were used on.
The block VIN and the vehicle VIN were the same, but by late 1967 the block VIN was revised. It started out with a 2 (for Pontiac), the last digit of the year and a letter for the assembly plant followed by the last 6 digits of the vehicle VIN. It was located on the front of the block, on the passengers side, at the bottom near the timing cover.
Common assembly letters are: A = Alanta, B = Baltimore, C (or *) = Califorina/Southgate, E = Linden, NJ, G = Framingham, MA, K = Kansas City, MO, L = Van Nuys, R = Arlington, TX, x = Kansas City, KN, 1 = Oshawa, Ont. Z = Fremont, CA.
*Note* This number sometimes is stamped very lightly and may be hard to read as seen in this picture. It is also interesting that this block has the VIN stamped twice on it.
Casting Code:
All engine blocks have a casting code. This code will tell you the year it was to be used. However, these codes were used for more than one year and could have different machineing or even different main caps. Casting codes for 1955 to 1963 are found on the passengers side of the block. Casting codes for from 1964 to 1967 are found on the distributor pad, except the 421'*. Casting codes for from March 1967 on are found on the rear of the block just behind the number 8 cylinder
Block Code:
Pontiac engines have block code. This code will tell you the year it was to be used. However, these codes were used over from year to year. Together with the casting code and casting date you can determine what the engine is. Starting in 1965 Pontiac began using a 2 digit letter code. Above the 2 digit code will be the motor unit number, which is either 6 or 7 digits. It is important to note that it is not related to the VIN number. As a general rule, "W" coded blocks are manual transmission and "Y" coded blocks are automatics. And most of the "Z" coded blocks are also auto. The "X" coded blocks are a little of both.
Displacement Identification:
Displacement ID'* were cast in the side of the block starting with the 1968 428. A 428 was cast on the side of the block and in the lifter valley was a 28. In 1970 the 350 and 455 had their size cast in the side and a 50 or 55 in the lifter valley. The 400 also has the 400 on the side and 00 in the lifter valley, but not until 1971.
Motor mounts:
Starting in 1959 with the 389 block side motor mounts were used with two holes. In 1964 all blocks had provisions for block mounted starters. Although the full-sized cars still used the bell housing starters. In 1970, all blocks now had 5 motor mount holes, but not always tapped. The additional holes was done to fit the 2nd generation Firebird/Trans Am frame. The last of the V8'* (1977 to 1979) did not have the rear motor mount holes at all. Making it very difficult to install in to a GTO/Tempest.
Freeze Plugs:
There were only two freeze plugs from 1955 to 1966. And beginning in 1967 there were three per side.
Date Code:
The date code is cast on the distributor pad. It is a 3 or 4 digit code. The first digit will be a letter. A=January, B=Febuary, C=March, etc. Followed by a 1 or 2 digit number for the day of the month. The last digit will be the year.
Transfer lug:
The transfer lug or pyramid at the rear of the block to the passenger'* side of the distributor hole. The 389 and 400 blocks will not have this lug. The 326, 350, 421, 428 and 455 blocks will have the transfer lug. This was used to ID an engine when it need to be "transferred" to another line for additional machining. Note: The 1973 SD 455 did not have the transfer lug while the 1974 SD did.
Head codes:
Pontiac heads have their casting codes stamped on the center exhaust ports. Together with the date code, located either on the side of the head or by the rocker studs, you can determine the valve size and cc the chamber.
Intake Manifolds:
Intake codes have casting codes on them as well and with the date code by the thermostat you can determine what engine it came on.
Exhaust manifolds: Similarly to the intake, the exhaust casting codes will also show what engine there were used on.
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